NATIONAL ASSEMBLY PRESIDENT HANGS ON; PRIME

C O N F I D E N T I A L KINSHASA 000196 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/02/2019 TAGS: PREL PGOV CG SUBJECT: NATIONAL ASSEMBLY PRESIDENT HANGS ON; PRIME MINISTER SAYS THERE IS NO INSTITUTIONAL PROBLEM REF: A) KINSHASA 191 Classified By: Ambassador William J. Garvelink for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (C) Not much appears to have changed since yesterday's report (ref A) on efforts by President Kabila and his advisors to secure the resignation of National Assembly President Vital Kamerhe. One new development is that the fifth of six National Assembly executive directorate (Bureau) members has tendered his resignation. That leaves embattled National Assembly president Vital Kamerhe as the only directorate member who has not resigned. ¶2. (C) UN political advisor informed us last night he had again seen Kamerhe yesterday (March 2) and that Kamerhe reaffirmed his decision to resign. He also asked UN rep for help in obtaining a position abroad with an international organization. Although Kamerhe has agreed to resign, he insists, however, that he will do so on his own terms, i.e., he will address Parliament at its ceremonial opening on March ¶15. UN rep also spoke with a presidential advisor (name not disclosed). According to UN rep, the advisor stated categorically that Kamerhe will not,repeat not, be allowed to address the National Assembly. Our interlocutor lamented that it is ironic that the two sides, who have agreed on substance (the resignation will be tendered),are hung up on form, i.e., how the resignation is be carried out. It appears unlikely, the UN rep noted, that either side is willing to back down given their heavy emotional investment and perceived need to save face. ¶3. (C) Unable to make contact with presidential advisor Augustin Katumba Mwanke, Ambassador raised Kamerhe issue this morning with Prime Minister Adolphe Muzito during a meeting that covered several issues. Prefacing his remarks by affirming that the U.S. had no interest in the individuals involved in the disagreement, the Ambassador emphasized that the U.S. was only interested in strengthening the DRC's institutions and helping to ensure respect for its constitution. Muzito was quick to reply that the Kamerhe affair was not an institutional issue. It had to do with personalities and the unwillingness of Kamerhe to accept and promote the policies of the president. Muzito was articulate in arguing that in the political culture of most African countries, unlike the United States, it is imperative that subordinates follow the lead of the president because disunity hampered the president's ability to move the country forward. ¶4. (SBU) Muzito acknowledged that in private the president's team might disagree with their boss, but they could not do so publicly. He emphasized that Kamerhe was a member of the president's party, which had elected him to be head of the National Assembly, and as the highest-ranking representative of the president in parliament was duty-bound to execute the president's policies. Muzito underscored his view that efforts to remove Kamerhe were political, not institutional in nature, and that the constitution and democratic processes will be fully respected. He ended by saying that Kamerhe's departure now will actually be good for the country and will prevent an even bigger problem from occurring later. ¶5. (C) Comment: Muzito, who is generally regarded as somewhat apolitical but highly technocratic, is the poster child for his view that everyone on the president's team must support and execute the maximum leader's policies. Yet, his arguments for dismissal were well-reasoned and he did not personalize the Kamerhe affair as most of Kabila's advisors have done, even to the point of publicly accusing the National Assembly president of high treason. We will wait to hear from Katumba who, we suspect, does not want to discuss this matter, and continue to provide updates on this matter as developments warrant. End comment. GARVELINK